Discuss, in your own words, the satire, irony as the part-and-parcel

Discuss, in your own words, the satire, irony as the part-and-parcel of this novel, ‘Animal Farm.

Animal Farm is the satire related to the animals living in Animal Farm’.

How did he choose human characteristics in the present novel “Animal Farm’? Discuss them.

George Orwell used simple and realistic details of the characters. Discuss them.

Also describe the different aspects of irony used by George Orwell in this novel, ‘Animal Farm. Discuss it.”

Ans.

Animal Farm is an Animal Satire

After reading the story of this novel. Animal Farm’ written by George Orwell we note that Animal Farm shows animal satire. In other words, satire may be the part-and-parcel of any story like that of Animal Farm‘ under satire, the art of criticizing an object is carried out through contempt or ridicule. It is carried out with a SERAL witty, humorous tone in order to teach a serious lesson to the characters of the novel or drama. The purpose is to point out some problems or evil in some characters of in the world. In this way, the moral of life story is taught in an indirect manner. George Orwell has chosen his satire against the animals of the Animal Farm. He has put animals into human situation in place of writing directly about human problems. The writer has full freedom to speak critically as he likes.

The reasons for the effectiveness of animal satire

This story shows that there are some reasons for the effectiveness of animal satire, George Orwell had decided to write this novel, Animal Farm in this form because of the difficulty of making a direct attack on Russia at that time, secondly he had taken much interest in writing an animal story containing the elements of fun, laughter and humour. He had also made use of simple form in order to express clearly his political ideas with the purpose of giving recreation and some knowledge to the readers. He had also found it very easy to create sympathy in his readers for the poor victims of the dictatorship when the victims were innocent and weak. He also created hatred for the dictators like the greedy pigs and dangerous dogs. In this way, the writer had decided and succeeded to expose Russian communism. He retold the history of the development of Soviet Russia in the form of the community of animals living in animal farm in the real form of animal satire.

George Orwell had tried to create convincing animals

As George Orwell must create convincing animals, he must use them to show in a special way human problems in order to introduce a fantastic element. The animals should think, discuss and carry out the rebellion and manage a farm and build a windmill. It was the duty of the writer who must maintain a clear balance between the qualities of animals and humans as the inhabitants of Animal Farm. In order to maintain such balance, the writer used the tone of a ‘fairy-story’ which is the sub title of the novel ‘Animal Farm’. The writer presented the fantastic things or events as they were real and the readers felt much surprised.

George Orwell chose human characteristics in the present novel, ‘Animal Farm’

The writer made his work easier by choosing human characteristics proper to each animal. For example, in the first scene Clover was shown as a “stout motherly mare…who had never quite got her figure back after her fourth foal,” and “last of all came the cat, who looked around, as usual, for the warmest place, and finally squeezed herself in between Boxer and Clover; she purred there well throughout the speech of the Old Major without listening even a word…” After the successful revolt when the animals finally dared to enter the house of Jones “some hams hanging in the kitchen were taken out for burial…”

George Orwell used simple and realistic details of the characters

The close study of the story of this novel shows that George Orwell used simple and realistic details of the characters. For this he always added simple and real details of the characters alongwith animal traits related to their human traits. For example, after telling how Snowball had written the commandments on the wall of the barn he added that it was written very neatly. The writer also gave proper names to the committees which Snowball had organized: “…the Eggs Production Committee for the hens, the Clean Tails League for the cow…” The writer further remarked how the cat had joined one of those committees. The Education Committee was to tame wild animals: “She was seen one day sitting on a roof and talking to some sparrows who were just out of her reach. She was telling them that all the animals were now comrades and that any sparrow whose chose could come and perch on her paw; but the sparrows kept their distance.” Napoleon’s heroic names were “Terror of Mankind, Protector of the Sheep fold, Ducklings’ Friend…”, etc. The writer had made use of the element of humour after making proper combinations of animal and human traits.

Conclusion

It is necessary to mention that satire often combines some levels of meaning. We can find them in the story of this novel ‘Animal Farm’. The animal story, the history of the Communist Russia as well as the political and social discussion about ideals, revolutions as well as about the misuse of power mentioned together. It is very necessary to remember all these levels while reading the story of the novel to find out the inter-action of all levels because each and every level gives meaning with that of others.

Like humour, irony is that method by which satire communicates its message

After reading the story of this novel, ‘Animal Farm’ written by George Orwell we note that like humour irony is an important method by which satire helps to communicate its message. In short irony states one thing but intends to convey its opposite. If the effect of humans makes us laugh only for the sake of laughter but irony makes use of humour as a weapon to teach a lesson. We can find a good example of humorous irony in the description of the dealings of the cat with the sparrows.

The cat apparently seems to be very friendly to the birds but in reality her purpose is the opposite when she is making the excuse of the re education committee in order to catch them. There are some other ironic lessons here. The more specific motive is political that an individual character must be considered alongwith some abstract theories when political changes are being planned.

The ironic lesson is related to the fact that the teachings of the Old Major were completely falsified. The pigs who had been the leaders in the revolt against humans, gradually assumed more and more human traits both in their luxurious way to life as well as in their cruelty to the animals. The climax of irony could be found in the last scene as the final transformation of the pigs into humans. The last sentence states, “It was impossible to say which was which.” Such an irony shows the fact that the pigs had taken the place of Jones as the exploiters of the animals because the revolutions had failed.

A parallel irony is contained in the gradual changes of the Seven Commandments

It is necessary to mention that a parallel irony is contained in the gradual changes of the seven commandments Snowball had painted it originally on the wall of the Animal Farm. In this way, the writer had reminded the readers about the ten commandments of the Bible as the law given by God. It was because of their unchanging quality with the element of irony in the small changes which the pigs had made in the seven commandments. Even the smallest change had the ironic effect of turning each rule into its opposite.

The first commandment to be changed stated, “No animal shall sleep in a bed. When the pigs entered the house they did so, with sheets? The second rule was that, “No animal shall kill any other animal”. After Napoleon had held the trial and executed the animals it was added without Cause. The next rule was that. “No animal shall drink Alcohol to excess The Summary of the first two commandments was, “Four legs good, two legs bad was changed when the pigs started walking on their hind legs. With the remark that four legs good, two legs better. The most ironic change was that made in the last chapter to the commandment stating, All animals rare equal but some animals are more equal than others.”

The only commandment which was not transformed stated that, “No animal shall wear clothes”

Though some of the seven commandment had been changed as stated above. The only one commandment which had not been transformed by that timely stated. No animal shall wear clothes. The pigs did not care to write again this commandment on the wall.

At that point it was also stated that, it did not seem street strange…not even when the pigs took Mr. Jones clothes, Napoleon himself appearing in a black coat, ratcatcher breeches, and leather leggings, while his favourite sow appeared in the watered silk dress which Mrs. Jones had been used to wear on Sundays.

Such humorous scene had its most serious ironic remark that the animals were not as foolish as they appeared outwardly. Ironically they really resembled Jones and other humans more than animals. It was only one week before the final party when the total transformation to humans had taken place, Such an irony clearly shows the most serious lesson behind the satire.